Machine for making chenille or yarn chenille

ABSTRACT

Machine for producing chenille or yarn chenille, comprising yarn-making means which are arranged according to a plurality of formation axes (a 1 , . . . , qn), characterized in that the said formation axes are disposed along two opposite fronts (F 1 , F 2 ) of the machine.

SPECIFICATION

[0001] The present invention refers to a machine for making chenille or yarn chenille.

[0002] Chenille is known to be produced by using a plurality of lengths of fuzzy yarn which are engaged by two interweaving threads so that the latter, suitably twisted, hold stably the lengths of fuzzy thread which project radially to give the yarn a typical, substantially cylindrical conformation.

[0003] The traditional machines for making chenille yarn comprise a plurality of so-called “yarn-forming axes” arranged side-by-side along the length of the machine. Each axis comprises means for feeding the fuzzy threads, means for cutting the fuzzy thread into pieces of required length, and means for winding up and collecting the interweaving threads with the lengths of fuzzy threads interposed therebetween.

[0004] The following patents disclose in detail machines and operating cycles typical of this industrial production sector: EP 534911, U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,881, EP 717134, EP 502828, EP 674030 and IT 228197.

[0005] A drawback shared by the traditional machines of the type mentioned above is related to the significant longitudinal development of the same machines, as necessary to ensure a production sufficient to meet corporate requirements and market demand, which implies the need for correspondingly large spaces and high factory costs.

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the said drawback.

[0007] This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by providing a machine having the characteristics disclosed in claim 1. Further characteristics being set forth in the dependent claims.

[0008] The present invention makes it possible to limit the overall dimensions and, thereby, exploiting more rationally and efficiently the available speces. Moreover, a machine according to the invention is cost-effective and relatively simple to make.

[0009] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perpsective view of the the frame of the machine according to the invention;

[0011]FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, a front view, a side view and a plan view of the frame in FIG. 1.

[0012] Reduced to its basic structure, and reference being made to the figures and the attached drawings, a chenille-forming machine according to the invention comprises a frame with service structures (1, 1′; 2, 2′; 3, 3′) provided at different heights in correspondence of the two opposite operating fronts (F1, F2). The said service structures are made up of support means of known type (and shown only in a detail of FIG. 3) intended for feeding the interweaving threads and fuzzy threads, dimensioning and cutting the fuzzy thread into pieces of preset length, twisting the interweaving threads with lengths of fuzzy threads interposed therebetween, and of means for collecting the thus produced chenille yarn: the said means being disposed, according to a plurality of “chenille-forming axes” (a1, a2, . . . , an), alongside each of the two fronts of the frame.

[0013] According to the example illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings, the frame is made up of two like units, consisting of an array of suitably shaped panels and metallic bodies, and connected by two uprights (4) to which each of said units is fixed, thereby forming an assembly symmetrical with respect to the middle plane (P-P) of the uprights (4). It is understood that the length of each unit making up the frame, that is, the number of operating axes (a1, . . . , an) of each unit, may be of any extent. Likewise, the frame may consist of a preset number of said units.

[0014] A machine constructed according to the present invention makes it possible to double the production without bringing about any increase of its length, which is of great advantage in terms of space exploitation, allowing the production of yarn on both fronts (F1, F2) instead of one front only, as in the case of traditional machines.

[0015] Each operating or yarn-forming axis (a1, . . . , an) is made up, as above described, of means of known type. For example, reference being made to the sketch in FIG. 3, a yarn-forming axis may comprise:

[0016] a transmission for feeding the interweaving threads (5);

[0017] a head for feeding the fuzzy thread (6), with an underlying gauge on the two sides of which the draw rollers will be positioned;

[0018] a blade (7) for cutting the fuzzy thread;

[0019] spindles (8) for collecting the chenille yarn.

[0020] According to the above, the upper service structures (1, 1′) coud be made to support the transmission means which feed the interweaving threads; the intermediate service structures (2, 2′) may serve for supporting the fuzzy thread-feeding heads, the gauges, the draw rollers and the blades; and the lower service structures (3, 3′) may serve for supporting the yarn-collecting spindles.

[0021] In practice all the construction details may vary in any equivalent way as far as the shape, dimensions, elements disposition, nature of the used materials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within the limits of the protection granted to the present patent for industrial utility model. 

1. Machine for producing chenille or yarn chenille, comprising yarn-making means which are arranged according to a plurality of formation axes (a1, . . . , qn), characterized in that the said formation axes are disposed along two opposite fronts (F1, F2) of the machine.
 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a frame with two opposite units each of which comprises a plurality of service structures (1, 1′; 2, 2′; 3, 3′) provided at different heights.
 3. Machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said units are connected to each other by two uprights (4).
 4. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said frame consists of metallic elements.
 5. Machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said units are equal to each other. 